Ketchum and Its Clients Win Six PRSA Big Apple Awards

 

 

New York, June 7, 2006 - Ketchum, a leading global public relations firm, was honored with six awards for outstanding client work at the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) 19th Annual Big Apple Awards last week at New York City’s Rainbow Room. The six awards Ketchum and its clients received were for programs with Eastman Kodak Company, First Data Corporation, Merial, Best Buy and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. In addition, Ketchum’s John Paluszek, Senior Counselor, was presented with the 2006 Philip Dorf Award for his leadership in guiding and inspiring the careers of entry-level and young PR professionals. The award is given annually to a leader in the public relations community who perpetuates the highest standards of the profession in a selfless role as a mentor.

     

During his 30-year-plus career in public relations, Paluszek has guided and inspired the careers of countless public relations practitioners and continues to do so, both inside and outside of Ketchum. He currently serves as co-chairman of the Commission on Public Relations Education, liaison to the United Nations for the Public Relations Society of America, and ambassador-at-large for the Global Alliance on Public Relations and Communications Management, and also is a member of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. He also has lectured on corporate responsibility and reputation management at 10 U.S. colleges and at business conferences on four continents. In addition, just this year, Paluszek organized the New York PRSA chapter’s new high school initiative, “Career Explorations,” which brought PRSA-New York professionals into several inner city schools to educate students about the PR profession.

     

“Mentoring is a service that allows PR professionals of all levels, from interns to senior executives, to give to each other and the profession,” Paluszek said, accepting the award. “Mentoring allows us to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and promotes a continuous cycle of teaching, practice evaluation and self-assessment.”

    

“There are few others in the industry who deserve this recognition in the way that John deserves it," said Raymond L. Kotcher, senior partner and chief executive officer of Ketchum. "He has served as a tireless role model, not just for many throughout our industry but also to us here at Ketchum. This is a tremendous honor and a wonderful way to recognize his contributions as a mentor, lecturer and teacher."

    

The awards Ketchum and its clients received are as follows:

    

    

    

    

In addition, Ketchum received an honorable mention for its newsletter StyleWise. The Big Apple Awards are bestowed annually to public relations professionals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The awards honor excellence in public relations.

    

     

The Public Relations Society of America, New York City Chapter, is one of the founding chapters of the PRSA, the world’s largest professional organization for public relations practitioners. PRSA-NY was founded in 1948 and is the third largest PRSA local chapter in the United States. The chapter serves the interests of public relations professionals working in business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. Chapter board and committee members are volunteer public relations professionals who work in the NYC metropolitan area. 

     

The New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America established the Big Apple Awards program in 1988 to encourage excellence in public relations. Superior communications programs solve problems, change opinions and create opportunities. The Big Apple Awards program seeks to recognize communications professionals who have achieved the standards of excellence.

    

    

An innovator in communication since 1923, Ketchum delivers seamless service around the globe through its 23 offices and 47 affiliates in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. With its five global practices – Brand Marketing, Corporate Communications, Healthcare, Food & Nutrition, and Technology – Ketchum offers clients a unique breadth and depth of marketing and corporate communications expertise. A leading global public relations firm and the PRWeek 2002 Agency of the Year, Ketchum is a unit of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC; www.omnicomgroup.com). Additional information on Ketchum, its award-winning work, and past news releases can be found at www.ketchum.com.